Heart Failure - Living With Heart Failure

You can feel better when you have heart failure by taking your medicines as directed, having a healthy lifestyle, and avoiding things that make heart failure worse. Know what things you can do every day to stay healthy, what symptoms to watch for, and when to call a doctor.

Take a low-dose aspirin every day if your doctor advises it to prevent a
stroke or heart attack. But higher doses of aspirin may make your heart failure
worse. So talk to your doctor first about how much to
take.

Having a healthy lifestyle

Limit sodium. Your doctor might recommend that you limit sodium to less than 2000 mg a day. Limiting sodium can help you feel better and prevent sudden heart failure. Too much sodium makes it harder for your already-weakened heart to pump. Fluid may build up in your lungs—making it harder for you to breathe—and in your feet, ankles, legs, and belly.

Exercise regularly. If
you aren't already active, your doctor may want you to start
exercising. Do not start exercising until you have talked with your doctor to make an exercise program that is safe for you. You could do it in a cardiac rehabilitation program or on your own.

Avoiding things that make heart failure
worse

Treating your sleep problems

One Man's Story:

Pete, 70

"I was having a lot of trouble getting enough sleep. I
was snoring so bad that my wife was sleeping in another room. I'd wake up 7
times a night. Sometimes I'd wake up gasping for breath. The next day I'd be so
tired that I'd fall asleep while doing my woodworking in the garage. And I was
really fuzzy-headed. I couldn't remember anything.

"I thought it
might be my heart failure. So I decided to talk to my doctor about it, and he
suggested a sleep study. I found out that I have sleep apnea. I haven't been
getting enough oxygen because of it. He put me on a CPAP machine at night. I've
used it for the past 4 months.

"It took a little time to get used
to sleeping with a mask. But I'm sleeping much better. Now if I wake up, it's
only once, and I go right back to sleep. I feel so much better during the
day."—Pete

This story is based on information gathered from many people living with heart failure.

Many people with heart failure have trouble
sleeping. Your doctor may be able to find out what is causing your
sleep problems and help you get a good night's
sleep.

Having a healthy sex life

Most people with heart failure can
still have an active and safe sex life. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about having sex. If you have mild heart failure, your doctor will likely say that sex is safe for your heart. If you have more severe heart failure, your doctor will want to check your health to make sure sex is safe for you.2

Unfortunately, sexual problems are common. Your
interest may drop, or you may have shortness of breath or other symptoms that
limit your ability to have sex. Men may have erection
problems.

Talk to your doctor. You can get
help for erection problems or other sexual troubles.

Other things you can do to take care of
yourself

Get help for depression and anxiety if you have them. Heart failure can be hard on your
emotions. Many people with heart failure feel
depressed or anxious. For more information on how to feel better, see
Coping With Your Feelings.

Help for caregivers

It can be rewarding to help a loved one with heart failure. But
it's also a lot of work. And it can be hard emotionally.

If you are taking care of a loved one, make sure that you also take
care of yourself. This can mean taking breaks by getting help from family or
friends. You also may be able to use respite care. These services provide
someone who will stay with your loved one while you get out of the house for a
few hours.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions

Heart Failure - What Increases Your Risk
The number of people who have heart failure is growing. Two of the reasons for this growth are that people in general are living longer and people who already have heart failure are also living longer.

How Coronary Artery Disease Causes Heart Failure
How does CAD damage my heart suddenly? CAD can damage your heart muscle suddenly if you have a significant heart attack. A heart attack happens when a tear develops in a plaque inside one of your coronary arteries and a blood clot forms over the tear.

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